Jim’s break so different from pal Charlie Cooke
there’s never a good time for a footballer to be injured.
Players returning to training in Scotland will be hoping they can stay fit during these uncertain times.
Jim Geddes discovered that a bad break can have a lasting impact on your career.
Sixty years ago, he was one of two young stars being tipped for the top at Aberdeen.
The Dons were delighted that legendary scout, Bobby Calder, had captured midfielder Jim and winger Charlie Cooke from Renfrew Juniors as provisional signings.
This week in 1960, the newspapers were reporting that Jim was about to move to Aberdeen for the start of the new season.
But, as he recalls, the two arrivals had contrasting fortunes.
He said: “Charlie and I had been team-mates at school and juvenile level.
“We played for Port Glasgow Rovers and there was talk of a move to Leicester City.
“They signed Hugh Mcilmoyle from our team, and we kept being told we’d be next.
“Nothing materialised, however, and we joined Renfrew Juniors.
“Within three months, there were offers coming from a number of clubs and we decided on Aberdeen.
“Davie Shaw was the manager when we signed, but he was replaced by Tommy Pearson.
“Tommy wanted to see us play, and I was pencilled in to turn out in a reserve match against Clyde. Unfortunately, I broke my ankle the week before and was in plaster for six weeks.
“Things went a lot better for Charlie, and he was called-up for full-time training.
“I hadn’t played for quite a while, and then turned out for Aberdeen reserves against Dunfermline.
“My direct opponent was the former Hearts and Scotland forward, Jimmy Wardhaugh, and we got thrashed 6-1.
“There was another game against Ayr United that we lost 5- 1. Mr Pearson obviously wasn’t impressed.
“Charlie was straight into the first team, and within 18 months he was picking up a Scotland Under-23 cap.”
Jim was back in junior football while he completed an apprenticeship in a shipyard, but senior football came calling again.
He went on: “I was due to meet Motherwell manager, Bobby Ancell, but Third Lanark came along with a definite offer and I accepted.
“Willie Steel had just arrived as manager. George Young had resigned when Bill Hiddleston took over as chairman.
“He was about to run the club into the ground.
“I was delighted to be playing top- level football. That had been my ambition.
“Going to places like Ibrox and Celtic Park was a dream.
“We played some decent football in my first season, but the second was a bit of a disaster and we were relegated with just seven points.
“Players were being sold all the time and not a penny was being spent. We had boots with rubber studs for hard ground and others with metal and leather for soft pitches.
“I found myself playing with one of each. They wouldn’t buy me a matching pair.
“I wanted to stay as a full-time footballer. But not under those circumstances.”
Jim, now 78, then had a short spell with Bradford Park Avenue, where he played alongside future England striker, Kevin Hector.
Former Falkirk boss, Reggie Smith, then signed him for Cape Town City in South Africa.
Jim recalled: “I didn’t really get on with Reggie, and moved to Addington in Durban.
“During my time there, I got whacked by an opponent and suffered a double leg-break. “I was in plaster for nine months.
“When I came back to Scotland, I didn’t have the desire to play football again.
“So I worked for IBM in Greenock for 25 years.”